How do you begin....

[kandmwedding]

How do you all start designing an album to scrap??

Do you usually draw out the layout, or just let it go where you mind takes you?

Do you try to design most or all of the pages first, before you get started, or do you do them one at a time?

Do you usually have a certain color scheme throughout, or do you change it up with each page?

Please give me some advice on how to get mine started... how do you begin, and what's each step in your process???

 

[bananiem]

There are lots of ways people do it, I think. I think you have to play around with it to see what is comfortable to you.
This is what I do:
I tend to do whatever color cardstock that goes with the pictures for that page. I don't sketch the page first but I lay the photos on the cardstock to decide placement and then look for coordinating cardstock for matting and journalling.
I did color coordinate our album of when we built our house. I used cream colored pages with cranberry, navy blue and green for accents. I have also color coordinated small 5x7 gift albums for a special occasion (baby, birthday party).
And I pretty much plan one 2-page spread at a time. Sometimes if I have a lot of pictures of one event I'll try to lay out 4 pages at once. Just so it flows.
Good luck, come back often to ask advice, and remember that it's YOUR album so do it YOUR way.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I second the sentiment that it is YOUR album so do what you like.

But I will offer one thought. Before getting started on layouts (and I don't usually draw mine out but there are exceptions) is to decide on your overall approach to the album. For instance is it of a special event such as a wedding? particular trip? series of related events for instance my DS and DD have Scout books? or a chronological series of events like a child's school years?

This will help you build a feel for the album and help in selecting the photos going into it. And then as stated by bananiem, most of us start playing around with layouts, figuring papers and cardstocks, and so forth.

Just don't forget it is your album - do what feels right and does what you need it to do!

Deb